Learn The Warning Signs That Can Lead To Destructive Wood Rot In Your Home
As you know, excessive humidity, whether in your crawlspace, basement, or attic can lead to serious problems for both your health and that of your home. One of the most serious problems for homeowners is what is referred to as "wood rot". The actual microscopic organisms that cause wood to decay belong to the fungi group. Wood rot is often called dry rot. This is an oxymoron because wood needs moisture to decay.
 The 3 Major Components of Wood:
For fungi to be able to colonize on wood there are 4 requirements that must be met:
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The wood in your home "decays" because the fungi actually eat the cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin that wood cells are made from by releasing enzymes that digest specific wood components. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments such as crawlspaces and basements with steady supplies of moisture. Not only do you risk wood decay but also possible expensive foundation water damage repair. This is why controlling moisture is so important!
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Wood with a moisture content of 20% or more is highly susceptible to wood rot and damage is possible at lower percentages depending on other factors.
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Did you know that… according to the National Association of Waterproofing and Structural Repair Contractors (NAWSRC) untreated moisture damage can cause a deterioration of your property value by 10 to 15 percent?!
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Excessive Moisture Warning Signs:
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Once you have discovered wood rot, the most important thing to do next is to determine where the home moisture is coming from. Look for the obvious first; roof leaks, plumbing leaks, gutters and downspouts filled with debris, poorly graded soil that slopes toward the foundation and cracks in the foundation. It’s also a good idea to check windows to make sure they are properly sealed. You should maintain caulk around all of the seams and look for swelling of windows or peeling paint.
If your house has a crawlspace, you should look for puddled water and water or mold stains on foundation walls. If you determine that excessive moisture is coming from the crawlspace, you should install a vapor barrier and a superior crawlspace dehumidifier.
